DAIC advocates full trading on January 3

DAIC CEO Achille Chris Joseph

The Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC) is once again putting its full support and advocacy behind open trading on the traditional “Merchants’ Holiday” this January 3rd, 2012.

The DAIC has repeatedly advanced that “Merchants’ Holiday” is not a dies non in the Commonwealth of Dominica and, as such, any decision to close has to be at the determination of the employer.

The Association is therefore advocating full trading on January 3rd, 2012.

CEO of the DAIC, Achille Chris Joseph said, “Traditionally, the colonial employer closed to the public on January 2nd so that he could count his stock. In those days, businesses all ran a January to December fiscal year so it was necessary to confirm stock levels at the beginning of the year. Today, this is not a necessity. With the advent of electronic storage of inventory data, a business can know its stock at the push of a button. But quite apart from closing to the public, workers usually worked inside counting stock. So for many workers, it was not a holiday.”

Speaking on the subject last year, Joseph, said, “Merchants’ Holiday in general and the fact that it falls on Sunday this time around may just be the opportune time for social partners to look at the totality of non-productive breaks in Dominica.”

On reflection, he now says that the DAIC raised the debate in 2010 and invited social partners to contribute to a discussion on the relevance of “Merchants’ Holiday” and come to a consensus, but some commentators saw it as a fight and the ensuing exchange of words achieved nothing.

The plethora of leave provisions in Dominica are already alarming and include the following:

Every Sunday – 52 days
Other Public Holidays – 12 days
Minimum Vacation – 12 days
Maternity Leave – 72 days
Certified Sick Leave – 36 days
Industrial Injury – 156 days
Compassionate Leave – 2 days

Other leaves provided for in industrial agreements include:

Jury Services
Sporting Activities
Paternal Leave
Union Leave
Study Leave
Family Emergencies
Uncertified Sick Leave

“How can we speak of productivity and competitiveness in an environment of such negative drivers?” the CEO asked.

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13 Comments

  1. A tired worker
    December 9, 2011

    Thank you for not publishing my comment. The true cry of the people will always be hidden. That’s the society we live in today!

  2. A tired worker
    December 8, 2011

    A work in the office of a merchant company and for Mr. Joseph to sit at his desk and dictate what he “thinks” should happen is ridiculous! Merchant’s Holiday is the only day I have whole year to do the things I can’t do during the year. (Going to the bank and gov’t institutions and so on) He should know that people dont always take annual leave every year for one reason or the other! Why can’t he say something positive like allowing the office workers at least one day off per month to do our own personal business?! They only think of themselves! Good luck for the workers and their own personal business! He thinks the holidays are a cause for the lack of productivity in Dominica! Think about the lack of motivation by employers! They only see their employees as work horses whose one goal is to make them money! Restricted upward mobility in the workplace! Worker preference in the workplace! Workers are made to feel incompetent and not even given a chance to prove themselves! Mr. Joseph needs to step inside a few businesses and do some research! Then and only then can he make suggestions as to what holidays should be given and not!

  3. kelly
    December 8, 2011

    government raise up salary u vex you do not care about workers u all on the radio cause u wasnt please

  4. 123
    December 7, 2011

    How can we speak of productivity and competitiveness in an environment of such negative drivers?” by stopping the siesta you taking everyday at your desk.

    • Sum Fing Not Wong
      December 8, 2011

      Papa Bondieu, 123! I understand that the man has not had one day vacation since he took up the position with the DAIC and you talking about siesta?

  5. hmmm
    December 7, 2011

    he is not talking about boxing day, he is talking about merchants holiday. also he only stated his opinion but finally stated that it is up to the employer. he does not have the final say.

    further more what hustle and bustle people doing like that for another holiday? i mean granted its nice to stay home. some of us just like to much holiday.

  6. Truth
    December 7, 2011

    The biggest problem facing productivity in Dominica is the mentality of the people. Barbadians have similar work structure but the people’s mentality are way different and better.
    Take the government sector for example – 90% of the civil service are PIP people who have the attitude of entitlement . I need not explain how that impact work ethics. The private sector productivity sector also need proper training on ways to improve productivity and customer relation. I don’t think that we really grasp the true meaning of the term “ time is money”.
    I may get some heat for saying so but I believe that our people were much more productive during the 80’s. Low productivity , bad work ethics are all symptoms of corruption in high and low places . the attitude of our people today is even more scary- every body want it now but refuse to work hard; quick money is the goal but quick money evaporates quickly. Everybody want to have a cayman island or Swedish bank account no body wants to work hard. Among the many dumb things that came from carrette’s mouth I always say that the “See Monkey do “ phrase is the only good thing Carrette has uttered tha really apply to the realities of our society.

  7. December 7, 2011

    WE ARE GOING BACK TP EGYPT ALL OVER AGAIN

  8. Anonymous
    December 7, 2011

    Brother man slavery days abolish already.. The people needs the day off after all the hustle and bustle of Christmas Eve.

    • Sum Fing Not Wong
      December 8, 2011

      You are just one more dimwit on the block. The man spoke about Merchants Holiday, not Christmas Eve. So, are you going to take back your comments?

  9. investigate
    December 7, 2011

    If achielle had a piece of paper in labour administration i dont know what he would do, wey papa, yu doh want to close on boxing day doh close nuh, but let people observe their holiday, eh eh, compawazon

    • Anonymous
      December 8, 2011

      Doo doo head he is talking about “Merchants Holiday”. The day after New Year’s Day.

    • Sum Fing Not Wong
      December 8, 2011

      Who in Dominica do you know with “a piece of paper in labour administration?” Skerrit has one? The Minister for Labour has one? Ha ha, boy you not easy. A man needs a piece of paper in labour administration to speak about the number of holidays in Dominica? By-the-way, do you have a piece of paper? Then maybe you should not even be commenting. I know Achille quite well. He is one of the formermost professionals on HR and Employment in Dominica. He is the lead Lecturer in the BA in HR at BTC. I am sure he required more than a piece of paper in labour administration to land that job.
      The fact is that we want to force merchants to take a holiday when they are saying quite clear that they do not want a holiday. It is not “workers holiday”. It’s Merchants Holiday! Merchants decide whether they need a holiday. This is not for you to decide.

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